Here it is - the OFFICIAL 2014 READING GOAL CHALLENGE THREAD

[nemofans]

Finished book #58 - Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

This takes place in 1890's Malaya (now Malaysia). A girl has been asked to be the "ghost bride" for a son from a wealthy family who recently passed away. The son then begins haunting her in her dreams to convince her to say yes. I found the Chinese beliefs & myths very interesting. I would describe it as a Chinese fairy tale love story I guess, but not in a cheesy way. It definitely held my interest & wouldn't mind reading a sequel of her life after the decision she made.

Yangsze Choo’s stunning debut, The Ghost Bride, is a startlingly original novel infused with Chinese folklore, romantic intrigue, and unexpected supernatural twists.
Li Lan, the daughter of a respectable Chinese family in colonial Malaysia, hopes for a favorable marriage, but her father has lost his fortune, and she has few suitors. Instead, the wealthy Lim family urges her to become a “ghost bride” for their son, who has recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at what price?
Night after night, Li Lan is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, where she must uncover the Lim family’s darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family.

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#60 One Second After by William Forstchen

"A story that might be all too terrifyingly real. A story in which one man struggles to save his family and his small N. Carolina town after America loses a war that sends our nation back to the Dark Ages."

This was just ok to me. Kinda long and drawn out but does give room for thought.

 

[Colleen27]

#56/100 - Running on Empty by Peter G Peterson

From Goodreads: Acclaimed by all sides of the political spectrum, Peter Peterson's Running on Empty not only traces the deterioration of America's finances but offers solutions. This national bestseller is required reading for everyone concerned with America's long-term economic survival. In clear and concise prose, Peterson offers America not only a vision but the practical steps by which to ensure our children's economic future. Running on Empty is not only a warning, it is also a manifesto calling for the next administration to finally confront a deep and disturbing problem that politicians of all parties have insisted on ignoring for too long.

This book was seriously dense and very pessimistic but also pretty informative and extremely well researched. I read it on the recommendation of a friend who usually has polar opposite views on most political and social topics, and I was surprised at how even handed the author is in his condemnation of both parties and their policies.

#57 - World Made By Hand by James Howard Kunstler

A fictional narrative of a future shaped by multiple global crises, including a lack of oil and terrorist strikes against the US, the small town setting of this book allows the author to paint an almost pastoral, utopian picture of a simpler way of life at times. The transitions involved sometimes feel overly simplistic, as though it is actually possible to simply step back to a different time without violent upheaval or external threats, but the unusually stable setting for a dystopian novel allow issues like food production, water, and other necessities of life to be featured in a way shoot-and-run scenarios gloss over.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

The Strain
Guillermo Del Toro

An epic battle for survival begins between man and vampire in The Strain—the basis for the FX series and the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy from one of Hollywood’s most inventive storytellers and a critically acclaimed thriller writer.

Guillermo del Toro, the genius director of the Academy Award-winning Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy, and Hammett Award-winning author Chuck Hogan have joined forces to boldly reinvent the vampire novel. Brilliant, blood-chilling, and unputdownable, The Strain is a nightmarish thriller of the first order.

I really loved this book. I thought the premise is an interesting and different take on the usual vampire lore. I do with the author were a bit more descriptive sometimes. I know some people don't enjoy "wordy" authors, but I, personally, do.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Finished book #57 - Help for the Haunted by John Searles

I read this in 24 hours! I liked it. It's about a girl & her unusual family. Her parents are "demonologists" which means they help people who are having paranormal difficulties. The older sister is a troubled teen who causes lots of turmoil in the family.

John Searles’s Help for the Haunted is an unforgettable story of a most unusual family, their deep secrets, their harrowing tragedy, and ultimately, a daughter’s discovery of a dark and unexpected mystery.
Sylvie Mason’s parents have an unusual occupation—helping “haunted souls” find peace. After receiving a strange phone call one winter’s night, they leave the house and are later murdered in an old church in a horrifying act of violence.
A year later, Sylvie is living in the care of her older sister, who may be to blame for what happened to their parents. Now, the inquisitive teenager pursues the mystery, moving closer to the knowledge of what occurred that night—and to the truth about her family’s past and the secrets that have haunted them for years.

Next book: Ghost Bride

Even though I felt a little let down but this book as a whole, it was one of my favorite reads from last year!

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 70 books

Book #41 - "The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches" by Alan Bradley

From Goodreads: On a spring morning in 1951, eleven-year-old chemist and aspiring detective Flavia de Luce gathers with her family at the railway station, awaiting the return of her long-lost mother, Harriet. Yet upon the train's arrival in the English village of Bishop's Lacey, Flavia is approached by a tall stranger who whispers a cryptic message into her ear.

Moments later, he is dead, mysteriously pushed under the train by someone in the crowd...

Who was this man, what did his words mean, and why were they intended for Flavia? Back home at Buckshaw, the de Luces' crumbling estate, Flavia puts her sleuthing skills to the test.

My review: I loved this book! The plot was nothing like I had expected it to be!!! I'm left wondering if the author is done with this series, or if he plans to continue it. The way the book ended, it could go either way! Love these characters, and I'll be truly sad if this is the end for Flavia!

Next up: "Son" by Lois Lowry

 

[jenny105]

I finished book #25 The Goldfinch yesterday. I have no idea why that book is so highly rated. I thought it was very tedious.

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #59 - Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan

My DH's secretary sent the 1st 5 books in this series home with my DH for my DS to read. I had never heard of them so I read the 1st one b4 letting my 9 yr old DS read them. I don't think he is old enough yet to read these. I myself didn't really care for the 1st book & i won't be reading the rest. I found the main character very immature and selfish. The characters & plot are very boring and 1 dimensional.

Darren Shan and his best friend, Steve, get tickets to the Cirque Du Freak, a wonderfully gothic freak show featuring weird, frightening half human/half animals who interact terrifyingly with the audience. In the midst of the excitement, true terror raises its head when Steve recognizes that one of the performers-- Mr. Crepsley-- is a vampire!
Steve remains after the show finishes to confront the vampire-- but his motives are surprising! In the shadows of a crumbling theater, a horrified Darren eavesdrops on his friend and the vampire, and is witness to a monstrous, disturbing plea. As if by destiny, Darren is pulled to Mr. Crepsley and what follows is his forrifying descent into the dark and bloody world of vampires.
This is Darren's story.

 

[cousinbb]

I just finished the fourth book of the Brotherband Chronicles and was not disappointed!

 

[Pig Pen]

The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis.

Nina is a Red Cross nurse in Denmark who works with victims of abuse and human trafficking. She meets up with an old friend who is in distress and asks her to pick up a suitcase from the train station. After the friend is murdered, Nina discovers the suitcase contains an unconscious little boy - who speaks a foreign language, she begins a frantic search to figure out what has happened to him and who he is. In the meantime she is being hunted down by an unknown man who is after the suitcase.

This book was full of twists and turns and is the first of a series of books about Nina. I found the boy's mother, who is desperately searching for her missing son, to be a much more interesting character though!

I liked this and would recommend it. Not for the squeamish though.

Next up - Her Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty. I am also still working my way though The Goldfinch.

 

[lovegrumpy]

#13 Janet Evanovich TakeDown Twenty

ew Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum knows better than to mess with family. But when powerful mobster Salvatore “Uncle Sunny” Sunucchi goes on the lam in Trenton, it’s up to Stephanie to find him. Uncle Sunny is charged with murder for running over a guy (twice), and nobody wants to turn him in—not his poker buddies, not his bimbo girlfriend, not his two right-hand men, Shorty and Moe. Even Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, has skin in the game, because—just Stephanie’s luck—the godfather is his actual godfather. And while Morelli understands that the law is the law, his old-world grandmother, Bella, is doing everything she can to throw Stephanie off the trail.

 

[Momof3dogs]

30/50 my reality---Melissa rycroft

Not something I would normally read and I admit to skimming some parts. It was fun to read some behind the scenes of bachelor nation.

31/50 What Alice Forgot----Liane Moriarty

Loved this book! It's been reviewed on here before so I won't go into it but I simply cannot wait to read more by this author

32/50 Four--- Veronica Roth

I liked being able to see how Four became a member of Dauntless.

33/50 Reconstructing Amelia---- Kimberly McCreight

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 70 books

Book #42 - "Son" by Lois Lowry

From Goodreads: They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive? She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child, even if it means making an unimaginable sacrifice.

Son thrusts readers once again into the chilling world of the Newbery Medal winning book, The Giver, as well as Gathering Blue and Messenger where a new hero emerges. In this thrilling series finale, the startling and long-awaited conclusion to Lois Lowry’s epic tale culminates in a final clash between good and evil.

My review: If you have not read "The Giver" and the other 3 books in the series... run, don't walk to the nearest library and get all four of them! What an incredible story!!! I absolutely LOVED the final book in the quartet! It was written so well!! My daughter is starting the first book, and I can't wait for her to finish all 4 of them so we can talk about this! I highly recommend this series!!!

Next up: "Beach Colors" by Shelley Noble

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Currently working on a Sherlock Holmes audio book, The Rediscovered Railway Mysteries (reader: Benedict Cumberbatch).

 

[CallieMar]

I haven't posted here in so long due to finding new time-sucking fandoms lol. But I have been keeping up with my reading! I got a Kindle Paperwhite about a month ago and love it. Being able to download ebooks from the library makes it so much easier to manage holds and immediately available books on my wish list (my county-wide library system has an awesome collection but it usually takes at least a week for a book to arrive at my branch if I need to request it).

10/50 - North and South by John Jakes

11 - A Wicked Pursuit by Isabella Bradford (Goodreads ARC)

12 - The Search by Nora Roberts

13 - Tribute by Nora Roberts

14 - Lover Mine by JR Ward

15 - Heartbreak and Triumph by Shawn Michaels

16 - A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

17 - Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

18 - Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

19 - The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

20 - Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

21 - The Collector by Nora Roberts

22 - Lover Unleashed by JR Ward

23 - Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts

24 - Blameless by Gail Carriger

25 - Hot Ice by Nora Roberts

26 - Born in Fire by Nora Roberts

27 - Born in Ice by Nora Roberts

28 - Born in Shame by Nora Roberts

29 - Sultry With a Twist by Macy Beckett

30 - Sweet Revenge by Nora Roberts

31 - Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

 

[wilma-bride]

Book #36 - The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

I've been following her for the past few days. I know where she buys her groceries, where she has her dry cleaning done, where she works. I don't know the colour of her eyes or what they look like when they're scared. But I will.

Mia Dennett can't resist a one-night stand with the enigmatic stranger she meets in a bar.

But going home with him might turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life...

An addictively suspenseful and tautly written thriller, The Good Girl is a compulsive debut that reveals how, even in the perfect family, nothing is as it seems...

This book was likened to Gone Girl and, as somebody who didn't enjoy Gone Girl that much, I wasn't sure how I was going to like it. I needn't have worried. The story is told throughout from the perspective of four different people - Mia, Eve (Mia's Mother), Colin (Mia's kidnapper) and Gabe, the policeman investigating her disappearance. It started quite slowly but soon built up to the point that I was dying to find out what was going to happen. The ending actually came as a complete shock to me and was very cleverly done. Normally, I hate these books that skip forwards and backwards but this was written in such a way that, eventually, the past and present combined to great effect!

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 70 books

Book #43 "Beach Colors" by Shelley Noble

From Goodreads: While renowned designer Margaux Sullivan was presenting her highly praised collection during New York City's Fashion Week, her husband was cleaning out their bank account. A week after he disappeared, the bank foreclosed on Margaux's apartment and business.

Suddenly broke, betrayed, and humiliated, Margaux has nowhere else to turn to but home: the small coastal town of Crescent Cove, Connecticut, where she once knew love, joy, and family before she put them behind her on the climb to fame. When she's stopped for speeding by local interim police chief Nick Prescott, Margaux barely remembers the "townie" boy who worshipped her from afar every summer. But Nick is all grown up now, a college professor who gave up his career to care for his orphaned nephew, Connor. Though still vulnerable, Margaux is soon rediscovering the beauty of the shore through young Connor's eyes . . . and, thanks to Nick, finding a forgotten place in her heart that wants to love again.

My review: This was an ok story. Very predictable, and would certainly have been better if I was actually reading it at the beach. No brain power needed to read this one, but it was a fun escape.

Next up: "Welcome to Last Chance" by Hope Ramsay

 

[threeboysmom]

I finished book #25 The Goldfinch yesterday. I have no idea why that book is so highly rated. I thought it was very tedious.

I think I may take this one off my list. I don't think I've seen a DIS'er like this one yet...

 

[threeboysmom]

Book #36 - The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

I've been following her for the past few days. I know where she buys her groceries, where she has her dry cleaning done, where she works. I don't know the colour of her eyes or what they look like when they're scared. But I will.

Mia Dennett can't resist a one-night stand with the enigmatic stranger she meets in a bar.

But going home with him might turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life...

An addictively suspenseful and tautly written thriller, The Good Girl is a compulsive debut that reveals how, even in the perfect family, nothing is as it seems...

This book was likened to Gone Girl and, as somebody who didn't enjoy Gone Girl that much, I wasn't sure how I was going to like it. I needn't have worried. The story is told throughout from the perspective of four different people - Mia, Eve (Mia's Mother), Colin (Mia's kidnapper) and Gabe, the policeman investigating her disappearance. It started quite slowly but soon built up to the point that I was dying to find out what was going to happen. The ending actually came as a complete shock to me and was very cleverly done. Normally, I hate these books that skip forwards and backwards but this was written in such a way that, eventually, the past and present combined to great effect!

Too funny. I JUST added this book last night before seeing your review! Can't wait to get to this one!

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#61 The Three by Sarah Lotz

"Four Simultaneous plane crashes.
Three child survivors.
A religious fanatic who insists The Three are harbingers of the apocalypse.
What if he's right?"

Wellll, I dont' know about this one. Interesting enough to finish, but was even more confused when finished, lol. Kinda long/drawn out with way too many characters. Wouldn't recommend.